Zeise: Hello All! We can get started at noon today so get started sending the questions. Thanks for chatting!!
Tom: So basically we all know the Steelers are going to run the ball the whole game? I wish I could be a coordinator against the Steelers!
Zeise: I don’t know if that is necessarily true. I think the other thing is what plays do they run and how do they run. There are a lot of formations they can run out of. I don’t think they will put complete handcuffs on Devlin Hodges but he won’t be allowed to just let it rip, either
Ron: Two things I’m sick of seeing...wildcat formations and Edmunds in one on one coverage. Those two factors might account for 4 losses...
Zeise: The wildcat should be retired. It is a waste of a down and this team can not afford to waste downs. Terrell Edmunds has a bad play that led to the Bills TD. I don’t think he is terrible though. He is a product of high expectations. He is a solid NFL player but he is judged as a first round pick. If he was a fourth round pick his play wouldn’t be scrutinized as much. Like I said he isn’t a star but he is a solid enough NFL player
Retire21: MT stuck with Mason after 4 ints in Cleve and started him in Cincy, then pulled after the bad start for Duck. It's really the same this time around giving Duck a mulligan. What's the controversy over Duck starting?
Zeise: I didn’t know there was a controversy. I think most people want Devlin Hodges to start.
Tom: Why don't we see more wr screens, or quick slants with our backup qb's?
Zeise: We have seen very little of any of that and they only thing I can think of Is those throws aren’t in Hodges tool bag. He isn’t an NFL-level passer. He is gritty and he is tough but he doesn’t have an NFL arm
Tom: The winning formula in football is ball control and good defense. Why do teams insist on passing and getting in shootouts? If Peyton, Brees, Ben, Rodgers only won one when when their defense was able to step up, why do it?
Zeise: Is that the winning formula? Really? I think the winning formula is figuring out what it is you do well and doing it.
Zeise: Now the Steelers absolutely should slow games down, try and run the ball and let the defense win for them
Bill on the T: If the wildcat snap wasn't on the ground would the handoff have been fumbled. Maybe the call wasn't bad but poor execution?
Retire21: Josh Dobbs. Great arm. Would have things been different if they hadn't traded him?
Zeise: Retire - no he is no better than these guys. And Bill if ifs were fifths we would all be drunk
Retire21: The guy with the most incentive Sunday may be Conner......to show the Steelers made the right move not resigning him.
Zeise: I don’t know that’s why he would have incentive - his incentive should be he needs to prove to the Steelers he can be durable and he is worthy of getting signed to a new deal and being the running back of the future.
Zeise Has Lice: When you play New England and face Gilmore could you have the receiver he is covering just run go routes constantly to tire him out and get him off the field?
Zeise Has Lice: Is Ben really going to be able to come back from this injury and perform next year? Or should we expect to use our top draft pick on a QB or hope Brady or Brees is a free agent?
Zeise: If you took a WR and just had him so go routes you would essentially be playing offense with ten guys and that wouldn’t make sense. I’d say Ben is gonna give it everything he has to come back and the Steelers will be willing to give him every chance to come back. It sounds like he will be able to do it
Brian in CA: I wondered in the last game if Rudolph would have been hitting some of those deep throws that Duck was so bad on. On the flip side, Duck seems more evasive when there’s pressure. What do you think?
Bob: Answer a question from someone other than Tom please. Predict the QB situation next year for the Steelers
Zeise: Brian - yes Rudolph has a bigger arm and may have hit a few of those longer passes. He can throw it further and with a little more velocity. But his pocket presence is poor and decision making was not good or quick. And I do wonder how many times Buffalo would have sacked him on plays Hodges was able to escape
Zeise: Bob - see I just answered a question from someone other than Tom!
Zeise: The QB depth chart next year will be: Ben then Mason then Devlin
Bill on the T: Two franchise fortune changing decisions....Ravens trade up after seeing Lamar fall and the Steelers pick a consensus reach in Edmunds. What say you?
Zeise: Certainly drafting Lamar Jackson was the best decision the Ravens have made in a long time and has changed their franchise. I don’t know that the Steelers drafting Edmunds changes much of anything good or bad
Questfor7: I feel like Terrell Edmonds is the weak link of this defense. Never seems to make any splash plays. To me, he just seems like a solid tackler. Thoughts?
wahzoo: If we pay Dupree the big bucks will it be like the ghost of Lamar Woodley past... No production, fat, lazy and out of the NFL???
Zeise: Quest we addressed Edmunds. He is solid but not a star.
Zeise: Wahzoo - Dupree does not strike me as a guy who will get fat and happy with big money contract. He is a hard worker and loves to play football so I think he would very productive
Johan: Any chance that defenses have caught on to Duck underthrowing every ball? James Washington seems to be growing but almost every one of his catches has been due to Duck under throwing the ball.
Zeise: I don’t think it is that they have caught on to his under throws. It is just the more film they have of him the more they will be able to diagnose his weaknesses and where he is vulnerable. That’s the nature of the beast in the NFL - coaches have tons of film and are smart so now Hodges has to counter punch
Bob: What are the chances Lev Bell goes off for over 100 all purpose yards a couple of TDs?
Zeise: I think he may get 100 combined yards but I’ll be shocked if he goes off and has a huge day. I just don’t think he is that player any more. I don’t. He will rush for like 60 yards on 19 carries and he will have like 6 catches for 38 yards. One TD. That is my prediction
jon: Do you think Pouncey deserves to be in the Pro bowl? I thought he was not having a very good year ( at least according to most Steelers fans)?
Zeise: I don’t. I know his reputation is what it is but he is living on that some. He hasn’t had that kind of season. The most important thing is this - snapping the ball. And he has had too many bad snaps to be a pro bowl guy
Stevie: Long time reader, first time writer. With healthy Juju, Dionte and J Wash, do the Steelers have on of the top WR trios in the NFL?
Zeise: They have potential. They would have a long way to go to become that. Washington has made a lot of strides and is becoming a really good player. Johnson has a lot of upside but hasn’t come close to living up to that and Smith-Schuster has to prove his year last year wasn’t a product of playing with Antonio Brown.
Questfor7: Seems like we only throw the ball out wide with Duck. Why don’t we see more slants or crossing patterns?
Zeise: Again I don’t know if he can make those throws consistently
Mooch: With the game on the line why pass it in end zone to Jones? Shouldn't Washington (who was open) have been the first option in any route?
Mooch: With a backup qb, should the ball go to C
Zeise: I think Washington was the primary receiver and Hodges got greedy and tried to make a play. That was one of his biggest issues against the Bills - he tried too hard to make a play and didn’t rely on his teammates. When he follows the plan he isn’t bad. When he doesn’t follow the plan he stinks
Dammer: Paxton Lynch was a first round pick, so he must have better arm talent than Hodges or Rudolph. Why hasn't he been given an opportunity?
Zeise: Great question. He has all the physical tools to be a star. I was told he has not yet mastered the offense or some coach speak nonsense
Mooch: Why are we not relying on our best players with Duck as our qb? Shouldn't the Bills game have have been a Conner, Washington, Dionte show? Don't get fancy just get the ball to the playmakers!
Zeise: Amen and Amen. I think it is crazy that Conner, Washington and Johnson were not on the field for the overwhelming majority of the snaps. They should be in on every play. This musical chairs of players is silly. Put the best guys out there
Jeff: Did we see a little of the real Dupree this last game? Its a shame this is the year things "clicked" I, unlike most of the writers, do think a lot had to do with contract season and the payday awaits. Yeah its an unfair accusation if I am wrong but I have yet to hear a compelling agreement as to how and why is this the "miracle" season. if not then maybe we should look to draft players that don't take 5 years to get the system
Zeise: Well I know he has shown he can be a dominant player. I guess it is a crap shoot to figure out whether it is real or just inspired by a a contract year. If I’m the Steelers I bet on him but I could see your point, too
Charlie: I do not know about you but I am really enjoying this year. With all the close games and playing better than expected I think in the long run this had made our team better as we get into next season . What are your thoughts?
Zeise: I actually love this season. For starters the addition by subtraction comes in play in terms of likability. The team losing some players that weren’t easy to root for makes it very different. I like these guys, I really do. Also the games are ugly but never boring that’s for sure!
KJ: Is JuJu back this week? And if so, how much can we expect from him?
Zeise: Yes it sounds like he is getting himself ready to play. As for what we can expect, I don’t know what he really gave them when he was healthy. He has had a very disappointing season. I hope he can give them more than he has but I wouldn’t count on it this first week baxk
Zeise: Well that’s it for us thanks so much for all the questions and let’s do it again next week
First Published: December 19, 2019, 4:57 p.m.
